יומנים > יומן - מלא 17/12/1947

Wednesday, December 17, 1947

Yesterday I informed Shaul [Avigur] of Moshe [Sharett]'s request during a conversation with Golda that he not come [to the United States - on the matter of the Pans' departure], because he [Moshe] will come to the country for a few days. Moshe also proposes postponing the Zionist General Council meeting until the end of January, because the Security Council might discuss matters relating to Eretz Israel in early January.

       Excerpt from [Shaul's] letter: "Given that time is of the essence, I want to focus primarily on one thing. We decided to carry out the sabotage without authorization from the Mossad, because the issue of sabotage is governed by the same rule as defensive action [which is exempt from the need for advance authorization]. In this context we receive instructions only from the Brigade, and there's a permanent instruction - to sabotage deportation ships wherever they are. I hereby pass on to you an instruction to sabotage the ship in the event that you receive the [explosive] material. The explosion should occur after the people have disembarked." To this Shaul adds: He [Avigur] issued an explicit instruction not to sabotage.

       His reasons: France's attitude in the event of discovery, and the damage to ha'apala [clandestine immigration] operations.

       This instruction [by the Palmach commander] was issued after the instruction not to sabotage. The instruction was given to Micha Perlson. He knew of Shaul's opposing instruction. The person who gave the instruction to Micha was Nissan Leviatan (?).

       - At the budget committee meeting, the $5 million loan as against [anticipated income of] the fund [United Jewish Appeal (UJA)] in America was approved. UJA's allocation between the Joint [Distribution Committee] and Eretz Israel is: first 50 million - 55% to the Joint, 45% to us (27.5 million - 22.5). Next 75 million - 45% to J., 55% to us (33.5 million - 41.5), the remainder (up to 250 million[)] 25% to the Joint, 75% to us (31.25 to the Joint, 93.75 [to us]) - accordingly, of the first 125 million we receive 64 million, the Joint 61. After that we receive 750,000 from every additional million. It was agreed in exchange to cancel the special fundraising campaign - and not to arrange a loan.

       [Yisrael] Barzilai of HaShomer HaTza'ir is leaving for Poland. He asks:

       1) Whether to prompt the Polish government to raise the question of Eretz Israel in the Security Council. I answered no.

       2) Whether to suggest that one of the Slavic governments volunteer to send forces to the country? - No.

       3) What are the terms for procurement in Poland? - I suggested getting instructions first of all from Ehud [Avriel].

       - [Yehuda] Horin, Kozlowski [Pinchas Sapir], Shkolnik [Levi Eshkol], and Hillel [Cohen] brought me the Negev plan. The budget calls for 249,000. This includes an item of 44,000 that doesn't seem right to me - armored tractors. They want to receive 50 [thousand] from the [Jewish Agency] Settlement Department, 25 from Barth [the Mobilization Fund], 25 from the Histadrut Executive Committee and Solel Boneh, 50 from KKL [Jewish National Fund] and Mekorot [the national water company], 50 from me. Horin disputes his 50 - because this doesn't relate to settlement. I showed him three items [in the budget] that relate to settlement: small security buildings (5 thousand); fortification of shacks 8,350; 19 shacks of 4 rooms - 19 thousand - in total 32.5 [thousand]. In my opinion also armored machines [vehicles?] - 27.5. If he doesn't agree he should dispute the matter with [Eliezer] Kaplan, who's due here at the end of the month.

       I consulted with Fritz [Eshet] and Ya'akov [Dori] - they also think there's no need for [armored] tractors. I told Shkolnik to delete this item.

       - Fritz is complaining about disorganization, about lack of self-fulfillment, about wanting to quit. I asked him to stay. We'll discuss this with [Yohanan] Ratner.

       [Moshe Haim] Shapira is complaining that yesterday instruments [weapons] were given to Be'erot Yitzhak, and they took P£ 500 from them.

       Today two airplanes were sent to the Negev. One airplane, [when it landed] in Bet Eshel, learned that Nevatim is under attack. [The crew] grabbed a machine gunner and flew [to Nevatim] and dispersed the Bedouins. [The plane] brought a wounded man to Tel Aviv, went back and brought a wounded man from Bet Eshel. [Word of] the incident has already reached the Arabs in Jerusalem and made a huge impression.

       - In the evening: David Hacohen described circumstances, states of mind, and conversations with Haifa residents. The workers are too afraid - they're refraining from going to work unless there are Haganah guards. Is this not akin to evacuation? They're not too concerned about cooperation with the Arabs. The [government] bureaucracy is crumbling. Fear among the Arabs - fear among the Jews. They hate the Mufti, but are afraid of him.

       - A delegation from the Agricultural Center - Herzfeld, someone from HaShomer HaTza'ir (Schwartzberg), [Shmuel] Dayan. They prepared a plan for the addition of a thousand people to "outer" settlements. This will require P£ 200,000-300,000, but for now reinforcement of men and weapons is needed. The situation in Kefar Uria is dangerous.